Butler and Virginia Commonwealth defied the odds with “Hoosiers”-like runs to the Final Four last season, leaving a trail of ripped-up NCAA tournament brackets across the country.

The Rams will get another shot after winning the Colonial Athletic Association tournament, but the Bulldogs — and lovable mascot Blue2 — went to the CBI after consecutive trips to the NCAA title game.

Last season seemed like a confluence of chaos, but this year's bracket has the potential to match it after the top four teams in the AP Top 25 went down last week.

Kentucky, Syracuse, Michigan State and North Carolina got the No. 1 nods from the tournament selection committee. All four have their faults, though, particularly the Orange, who will be playing without center Fab Melo.

To get you ready for the action, here's a rundown of what to look for leading up to the title game in New Orleans on April 2.

Upset potential

Every year there are low seeds that win games they're not supposed to win and shatter brackets. Remember 13th-seeded

Wichita State: The Shockers must get by VCU in their opener but have the look of a team that could make a run.

Montana: The Grizzlies aren't exactly grizzled, but they enter with a 14-game winning streak and like to play defense.

Long Beach State: The Gauchos had three victories in as many nights to win the Big West but aren't sure if Larry Anderson will be able to play against New Mexico.

Distances

Although North Carolina got a break in the bracket by playing in nearby Greensboro, fellow Tar Heel State school Davidson could be a little travel-weary.

The Tar Heels have the shortest distance for their opening game, a short bus ride of about 47 miles, with Duke needing only a couple more miles to face Lehigh in the same arena.

Davidson has the second-longest trip of about 2,800 miles to play Louisville in Portland, Ore., a few miles shorter than VCU's trip to the Northwest to face Wichita State.

That's a long plane ride or roughly 46 hours on a bus. We're guessing they'll fly.

Kentucky also has a quick trip of about 77 miles to play Western Kentucky in Louisville, while Harvard's players will have plenty of time to catch up on their reading with a 2,200-mile trip to Albuquerque, N.M.

By the numbers

5-2 Odds for Kentucky to win the title, lowest by oddsmaker Mike Colbert of Cantor Gaming.

6-1 Odds for Ohio State to win the title, second-best despite being a No. 2 seed.

5 Teams from North Carolina in the NCAA tournament: North Carolina, Duke, N.C. State, UNC-Asheville, Davidson.

9 Tournament bids by the Big East, most of any conference.

11 At-large mid-majors, most since 12 made it in 2004.

12 Presidents since Harvard's last trip to the NCAA tournament, starting with Truman in 1946.

26 NCAA tournament appearances without once reaching the Final Four by BYU, most ever.